In association with
Omrop Fryslân
NOS News•
In Leeuwarden today, many people have come to see the remains of the old weighing house in the center of the city, which were recently exposed during archaeological excavations. Even before the gates opened at 10 a.m., there was a long queue,
“The original floor is 600 years old. It is unique that we can stand here,” says excavation leader André Pleszynski at Omrop Fryslân. “That’s a special experience and people appreciate that.”
The remains of the brick foundation of the old weighing house can be seen. That building probably dates from the year 1483 but may be even older. It stood near the current weigh house from around 1590.
Most beautiful coin
Pleszynski hopes to be able to date the old weighing house even more precisely. “We also found two silver medallions from the Middle Ages. A medal from Floris the Fifth. And a cavalier from Margareta of Constantinople, I personally think that’s the most beautiful coin you can find,” he says. “So we can probably provide the weigh house with a nice date.”
It is already certain that the current weigh house did not come about for nothing. “It seems that the old weighing house was in a state of disrepair. We also see that, the walls are completely crooked. This may have to do with the fact that the canal used to be a bit wider here,” says the excavation leader. “Or it has to do with the Middelzee (an estuary that used to run along Leeuwarden) and a diverse subsurface.”
Today is viewing day and hundreds of visitors are shown around the ‘floor’ by five guides. But the question is what will happen after today. The municipality has planned a small park on the site of the excavations.
For Pleszynski it is clear. He would prefer to preserve the floor and the finds in some way. “That would be nice if it could be opened up to the public so that they can look at it. But it is up to the province. It owns the finds.”
